Before that, paper folding for play was known by a variety of names, including 'orikata' or 'origata' (折形), 'orisue' (折据), 'orimono' (折物), 'tatamigami' (畳紙) and others. Until recently, not all forms of paper folding were grouped under the word origami. The Japanese word origami itself is a compound of two smaller Japanese words: 'ori' (root verb 'oru'), meaning to fold, and 'kami', meaning paper. The principles of origami are also used in stents, packaging, and other engineering applications. Traditional Japanese origami, which has been practiced since the Edo period (1603–1867), has often been less strict about these conventions, sometimes cutting the paper or using nonsquare shapes to start with. In general, these designs begin with a square sheet of paper whose sides may be of different colors, prints, or patterns. The best-known origami model is the Japanese paper crane. The small number of basic origami folds can be combined in a variety of ways to make intricate designs.

The term 'origata' is one of the old terms for origami. In Japan, ceremonial origami is generally called 'origata' ( ja:折形) to distinguish it from recreational origami. On the other hand, in the detailed Japanese classification, origami is divided into stylized ceremonial origami (儀礼折り紙, girei origami) and recreational origami (遊戯折り紙, yūgi origami), and only recreational origami is generally recognized as origami. Origami folders often use the Japanese word kirigami to refer to designs which use cuts. Modern origami practitioners generally discourage the use of cuts, glue, or markings on the paper. The goal is to transform a flat square sheet of paper into a finished sculpture through folding and sculpting techniques. In modern usage, the word 'origami' is often used as an inclusive term for all folding practices, regardless of their culture of origin. Origami ( 折り紙, Japanese pronunciation: or, from ori meaning 'folding', and kami meaning 'paper' ( kami changes to gami due to rendaku)) is the Japanese art of paper folding. A group of Japanese schoolchildren dedicate their contribution of Thousand origami cranes at the Sadako Sasaki memorial in Hiroshima.

Paper kami